Cannon EOD gives students show

For the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron on Cannon Air Force Base, dealing with robots is a daily occurrence.

But for the students of James Bickley Elementary School, seeing the robots in action was a special day.

As a tie-in to Veterans Day, Principal Todd Morris invited longtime friend Master Sgt. Warren Downing to display some of EOD’s gear for the students on Friday. Downing brought two robots, two bomb suits, a Segway, and two of his staff members.

Airman 1st Class Nathan Baloga and Airman Nathan Gopoian gave a presentation to the students about the EOD’s tools of the trade and the robots.

Students were also provided an up close look at the equipment, taking turns trying on the 10-pound helmet that goes with the bomb suit and making funny faces in a robot’s camera. Baloga and Gopoian were flooded with questions as the awed students watched their friends from one of the robots’ cameras.

For Gopoian, the exotic equipment is what first interested him in joining EOD.

“I found this job on YouTube,” he said. “I saw videos of other EODs blowing stuff up and the gear they used and that got me interested. I started researching it.”

Gopoian, who joined the Air Force directly out of high school, said he wished he had learned about what EOD does sooner.

“That is what this (demonstration) is about, just letting them see it could open an opportunity for them,” the 19-year-old said. “Besides, I would have loved to have played with and seen this stuff when I was in elementary school.”

Morris said the demonstration is part of an ongoing effort to bring the community into the school.

Downing said the demonstration focused along the lines of safety.

“This is technology most people don’t get to see,” he said, as fourth- and fifth-graders flitted by asking questions. “This way they can see it and we share what it is all for.”